CARNIVALCRUISE3

I am very glad that you are enjoying the review. I do try to make them informative and interesting at the same time, so everyone can get something from it to use for their upcoming cruises, or in your case, to re-live their experiences. Especially this time of year, when it gets dark early, is cold and snowy, it helps to think of vacations. How was your cruise? Did you experience a lot of the same stuff I did? I thought it was a nice enough ship with mostly good service and food, and while the itinerary is a boring one, it was still good to get off the ship and do stuff while in those places anyway. Happy New Year!

I have sailed on this ship 5 times since I live 30 minutes away from The Port of Miami. Actually, I love Key West and Cozumel. I'm a teacher and sail during Spring Break, summer vacation, and Christmas vacation. I also sail with my mom and nephew. We have taken my nephew on cruises since he was 8. He is now 17 and didn't want to come this time. Maybe he will join us on the Vista in April. During the summer, I sailed by myself because My mom suffers from back pain, and her back was really hurting. My nephew was on vacation with my brother. On this cruise, I didn't book any excursions. It was a cruise to relax. We walked around Key West, and at Cozumel stayed at the port area shopping, and sat on the beach chairs by the palm trees facing the ships to catch some rays. It was so relaxing! We didn't want to leave!

Thanks so much for your well written and interesting review. So glad that you had a great time.

I live 30 minutes away from The Port of Miami. I couldn't imagine having to pay air fare and hotel. Sometimes one of my brothers or my dad will drive us to port so that we don't have to pay parking.

I just sailed on the Victory last week and a lot of cabins have been remodeled. All of them on Deck 7 have been remodeled and they're working on other decks. It is a beautiful ship and has always been well maintained. I have done the Key West and Cozumel itinerary many times.

Thank you so much for the great pictures, and your interesting and well written review! You made me relive my cruise from last week. I sailed from 12/19-12/23. It was a great cruise!

Thank you so much for this great review. I'm looking forward to it! I will be sailing aboard the Vista in April and July!

Call 2 weeks before your cruise to make sure that they have applied it. The on board credit shows up on your Carnival profile 3 days before sailing.

They have fresh and delicious cookies at the coffee shop for $1.25 each. I just returned from the Victory. The ones on lido are not the same.

Thanks so much for your detailed and well written review! I will be sailing on the Vista in April. I'm sailing on the Victory this Monday. I live 30 minutes away from the Port of Miami, and got a great deal on this sailing. I booked it 3 weeks ago, and since then prices have skyrocketed.

Thanks so much for your review! So glad that you had a great time! I love the Valor! It is absolutely beautiful! I sailed on her several times when she sailed out of Miami.

I purchased it at $3.99 a few days ago before it increased. I'm sailing in 9 days!

Thanks so much for your review! I will be sailing on the Victory in 13 days. I can't wait to try the Seafood Shack. I agree that Marcelo is a great CD.

I am not trying to bash Carnival or the cruise itself. It wasn't a bad trip, just not my favorite.

 

I feel there is a risk on any ship/cruise for food illness.

 

The crew on the ship were pleasant, it was only the terminal area that seemed uninterested.

 

The area that could have improved was the fire drill. I remember in the past waiting in the lounge until ready to go on deck which was more comfortable than standing on the deck all that time.

 

Also, during the crew emergency drills the alarms would go off loudly in my room every 5 minutes for a half an hour. I wish they could have had the alarms not in the rooms as I was trying to rest during that time.

 

It just seemed like a lot of minor issues just seemed to happen throughout this particular cruise. I'd probably recommend it because many of the issues probably would not occur again.

On my cruise on the Splendor in July, the safety drill was 30 minutes and held outside also. On the Breeze, it is held indoors. Your review was very fair and honest.

I'm so sorry that you got sick on your cruise and for all of the noise while you were trying to rest. I have always found the aft pool to be the quietest place on the ship because I don't like loud music. I have sailed on the Victory 4 times, and the crew members have always been the most attentive and polite on this ship. I have sailed with Cruise Director Marcelo twice, and he is definitely the best cruise director that I have sailed with.

OK.... show of hands here.. am I the only one checking this thread every day for updates?????? Come on, NTYW Airlines --- Why aren't you giving GAPearl like a PAID week off from work so she can finish her review??

 

Haha - just kidding, Kim! :D Take your time.. these reviews must be a ton of work. Great job so far!

No, you're not the only one. I have been checking every day too! I love her reviews!

There are also delicious desserts at the Specialty Coffee shop for a small fee.

I agree with everyone's great advice. You will have a great time on your cruise, and will not feel self conscious at all because there are all shapes and sizes on the cruise.

Before your cruise, start eating healthier so that you can make healthier choices on your cruise. Do not go on those extreme diets that eliminate food groups.

What works best for me is to eat balanced meals, protein, carbs, and low fat, and I exercise and train with weights at the gym. I never eat fried, salty foods, or drink alcohol. On a cruise, I splurge on desserts, but train at the gym and drink lots of water. Again, everyone is different. Eat healthy 80% of the time and exercise all of the time.

Wife and I are also teachers. We usually do Disney, but thought we give a cruise a try.

Yes, give the cruise a try during spring break. It is so much more relaxing than Disney during spring break. We went to Disney for Spring Break vacation for 5 years, but for the last 4 years we have been cruising instead(they have great deals at this time). We now go to Disney during the summer.

Your kids will love it! There are a lot of kids on the cruise and so many activities for them. I cruise every spring break since I'm a teacher. I have been taking my nephew since he was 8. He is now 17, and still has a great time.

I love reading your reviews! I love all of your dresses. They look amazing on you! I can't wait to read the rest. I thought of you because I cruised solo during the summer aboard the Splendor. I always cruise with my mom and nephew, but they couldn't make it. I live 30 minutes away from the Port of Miami. I have cruised solo 4 times out of my 28 cruises, and on this cruise I decided to eat in the main dining room. When sailing solo I always eat on lido. Carnival did an excellent job seating me with other solos. They were the best table mates, and we always hung out after dinner.

You will love the ship! It is absolutely beautiful, and all of the staff is amazing! if you have Chloe as your cruise director, you will absolutely love her! She's one of the best.

I have sailed solo 4 times out of my 28 cruises. I had always eaten on lido when sailing solo. This last cruise in July, I decided to go see the Maitre D' to see if I was seated with other solos. Carnival couldn't have chosen more perfect table mates. We had so much in common, and 3 of us are teachers. We always hung out after dinner enjoying the shows and entertainment after dinner. We are planning to cruise together next summer.

If you have Facebook, find the cruise director's page, Marcelo Marshmallow. He responds to messages right away.

I'm so sorry that your cruise didn't measure up to your past Carnival cruises. I sailed on the Splendor last month, and it had the best staff and entertainment out of all my Carnival cruises. All of the crew members were so happy and attentive to everyone.

I haven't sailed on the Dream, but have sailed on the Breeze 4 times. It is my favorite ship. I sailed on the Splendor last month, and I loved it. I missed the Italian Restaurant, Blue Iguana Cantina, and Thrill theater. However, they have a burrito bar and a rotisserie chicken place. The entertainment and staff on the Splendor have been the best than on any of my other cruises. The cast of the Playlist Productions is the BEST that I have seen on any ship. They're amazing singers, dancers, and performers. I love the entertainment staff on this ship[. They're so much fun. You will LOVE the Splendor!